French Christmas traditions: festivities that proceed properly into the New Yr

[ad_1] The Christmas season is a time when the French put aside their treasured notions of being a staunchly secular nation to experience vacation traditions, a lot of them rooted within the spiritual practices of historic Rome and persevering with into the early a part of the yr.

Though France shares many Christmas traditions with its European neighbours, others are quintessentially French – like oysters on ice, the bûche de Noël (Christmas log cake) and a determined emphasis on Champagne.

Christmas markets ring within the season As in international locations throughout Europe, Christmas markets typically spring up in France beginning in November, with many persevering with by the primary week of January. Kiosks resembling wood Swiss chalets promote mulled wine, gingerbread (ache d’épice) and numerous items and crafts, persevering with a convention relationship from the Center Ages.

Paris hosts an array of Christmas markets in a typical yr with further "pop-up" markets showing for only a day or a weekend. Among the many most well-known of the annual markets are the Villages de Noël close to the Eiffel Tower and the biggest one on the Tuileries Backyard, in addition to these at Hôtel de Ville (Metropolis Corridor) within the Marais, Notre-Dame within the metropolis centre and in Saint-Germain-des-Prés.

For dates and areas of Paris Christmas markets, please click on right here.

<img fetchpriority="low" src="https://s.france24.com/media/display/45d3b2aa-e0a7-11f0-9c86-005056a90284/w:980/AP25331328857112.jpg" srcset="https://s.france24.com/media/display/45d3b2aa-e0a7-11f0-9c86-005056a90284/w:246/AP25331328857112.jpg 246w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/45d3b2aa-e0a7-11f0-9c86-005056a90284/w:388/AP25331328857112.jpg 388w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/45d3b2aa-e0a7-11f0-9c86-005056a90284/w:720/AP25331328857112.jpg 720w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/45d3b2aa-e0a7-11f0-9c86-005056a90284/w:980/AP25331328857112.jpg 980w" sizes="(max-width: 1023px) calc(100vw - 32px), (min-width: 1024px) 850px" alt="People stroll at a Christmas market in Strasbourg, eastern France, in November 2025." style="max-height:541px" loading="lazy" class="a-img "/> Individuals stroll at a Christmas market in Strasbourg, japanese France, on November 26, 2025. © Pascal Bastien, AP Within the Alsace area bordering Germany, Strasbourg proclaims itself the "Capital of Christmas". Town is understood for its Christmas market, which is the oldest in France (relationship from 1570) and one of many oldest in Europe.

Yearly, a 30-metre-tall Christmas tree is delivered to Place Kléber and embellished with ornaments and lights whereas retailers and craftsmen provide their wares on the some 300 wood chalets dotted everywhere in the metropolis centre. For many of December, Strasbourg turns into one of the crucial illuminated cities in France.

Creation The primary day of Creation on December 1 marks the official countdown to Christmas in lots of Christian traditions. French supermarkets and different shops invariably carry creation calendars (calendriers de l'avent) – field calendars with a folding door for every day main as much as Christmas that reveals a chocolate or small trinket when opened.

Creation wreaths (couronnes de l’Avent) may additionally make an look round this time, typically adorned with pine cones, bows and 4 candles. Historically, one candle will probably be lit on every Sunday main as much as Christmas.

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<img fetchpriority="low" src="https://s.france24.com/media/display/6c71e218-c47f-11f0-a5a6-005056a90284/w:1280/p:16x9/EN-20251118-134545-135210-CS.jpg" srcset="https://s.france24.com/media/display/6c71e218-c47f-11f0-a5a6-005056a90284/w:388/p:16x9/EN-20251118-134545-135210-CS.jpg 388w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/6c71e218-c47f-11f0-a5a6-005056a90284/w:720/p:16x9/EN-20251118-134545-135210-CS.jpg 720w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/6c71e218-c47f-11f0-a5a6-005056a90284/w:1024/p:16x9/EN-20251118-134545-135210-CS.jpg 1024w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/6c71e218-c47f-11f0-a5a6-005056a90284/w:1280/p:16x9/EN-20251118-134545-135210-CS.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) calc(100vw - 32px), (max-width: 1076px) calc(100vw - 44px), 850px" width="1280" height="720" alt="ENTRE NOUS" loading="lazy" class="a-img "/> ENTRE NOUS © FRANCE 24 The menace of Père Fouettard (Whipping Santa) In elements of northeastern France and past, Père Fouettard is a daunting determine designed to scare youngsters into being well-behaved – historically his function is to punish the naughty whereas Santa Claus rewards the good. Together with his black beard, shaggy hair and soot-smeared face, Père Fouettard whips misbehaved youngsters on December 6, the day of Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of kids.

Those that haven't been good over the previous yr may additionally discover their long-awaited Christmas items include coal, beets or onions, all because of Père Fouettard.

In the meantime, well-behaved youngsters are given chocolate and different sweets on the day of Saint Nicholas.

Step by step, the December 6 custom has disappeared in most French areas and the ritual giving of chocolate and gingerbread has been integrated into Christmas.

<img fetchpriority="low" src="https://s.france24.com/media/display/199bf7b6-a32c-11ee-abc2-005056a97e36/w:980/Christmas_throughout_Christendom_-_The_Christ-child_and_Hans_Trapp.png" srcset="https://s.france24.com/media/display/199bf7b6-a32c-11ee-abc2-005056a97e36/w:246/Christmas_throughout_Christendom_-_The_Christ-child_and_Hans_Trapp.png 246w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/199bf7b6-a32c-11ee-abc2-005056a97e36/w:388/Christmas_throughout_Christendom_-_The_Christ-child_and_Hans_Trapp.png 388w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/199bf7b6-a32c-11ee-abc2-005056a97e36/w:720/Christmas_throughout_Christendom_-_The_Christ-child_and_Hans_Trapp.png 720w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/199bf7b6-a32c-11ee-abc2-005056a97e36/w:980/Christmas_throughout_Christendom_-_The_Christ-child_and_Hans_Trapp.png 980w" sizes="(max-width: 1023px) calc(100vw - 32px), (min-width: 1024px) 850px" alt="Père Fouettard, the anti-Santa, punishes naughty children by whipping them." style="max-height:518px" loading="lazy" class="a-img "/> Père Fouettard, the anti-Santa, punishes naughty youngsters by whipping them. © The Christ-child and Hans Trapp Les papillotes de Noël Papillotes are small items of chocolate, wrapped with just a little be aware inside ornamental paper with fringed ends. They're thought to have been invented round 1790 by a younger apprentice chocolatier in Lyon who fell in love with a woman from the neighbourhood and despatched her goodies wrapped in love notes. When the grasp chocolatier, Monsieur Papillot, found these distinctive items he determined to fabricate and market them, and the papillote en chocolat was born.

Right now, the candies typically come wrapped in gold foil together with little vacation messages or proverbs and are fashionable in France round Christmas in addition to New Yr's.

<img fetchpriority="low" src="https://s.france24.com/media/display/688277ba-e0b0-11f0-84f0-005056bfb2b6/w:980/Papillotes-R%C3%A9villon-en-d%C3%A9cembre-2023-2.jpg" srcset="https://s.france24.com/media/display/688277ba-e0b0-11f0-84f0-005056bfb2b6/w:246/Papillotes-R%C3%A9villon-en-d%C3%A9cembre-2023-2.jpg 246w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/688277ba-e0b0-11f0-84f0-005056bfb2b6/w:388/Papillotes-R%C3%A9villon-en-d%C3%A9cembre-2023-2.jpg 388w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/688277ba-e0b0-11f0-84f0-005056bfb2b6/w:720/Papillotes-R%C3%A9villon-en-d%C3%A9cembre-2023-2.jpg 720w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/688277ba-e0b0-11f0-84f0-005056bfb2b6/w:980/Papillotes-R%C3%A9villon-en-d%C3%A9cembre-2023-2.jpg 980w" sizes="(max-width: 1023px) calc(100vw - 32px), (min-width: 1024px) 850px" alt="Small chocolates made by a popular French brand individually wrapped in bright packaging." style="max-height:690px" loading="lazy" class="a-img "/> Small goodies often known as papillotes made by a well-liked French model, individually wrapped in vivid packaging. © Benoît Prieur by way of Wikimedia Commons The santon collectible figurines of Provence Adorning many a Christmas crèche within the southern Provence area are handmade and painted ceramic collectible figurines often known as santons, from the Provençal time period "santoun" (for little saint).

Whereas Joseph, Mary and Jesus are represented in lots of a manger scene, the santons typically depict a complete village, together with craftsmen, farmers and the native baker. An iconic determine among the many santons is the Ravi, a person depicted with outstretched arms who's brazenly marvelling on the miracle of the nativity.

<img fetchpriority="low" src="https://s.france24.com/media/display/b1bda534-e0b1-11f0-a864-005056a90284/w:980/Santon-mara%C3%AEcher.jpg" srcset="https://s.france24.com/media/display/b1bda534-e0b1-11f0-a864-005056a90284/w:246/Santon-mara%C3%AEcher.jpg 246w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/b1bda534-e0b1-11f0-a864-005056a90284/w:388/Santon-mara%C3%AEcher.jpg 388w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/b1bda534-e0b1-11f0-a864-005056a90284/w:720/Santon-mara%C3%AEcher.jpg 720w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/b1bda534-e0b1-11f0-a864-005056a90284/w:980/Santon-mara%C3%AEcher.jpg 980w" sizes="(max-width: 1023px) calc(100vw - 32px), (min-width: 1024px) 850px" alt="A santon figurine of a market garderner wearing a blue jacket and carrying a basket of produce." style="max-height:638px" loading="lazy" class="a-img "/> A hand-painted santon figurine of a market garderner. © Guillaume Piolle by way of Wikimedia Commins Learn extra Christmas ornaments: Did the French invent them?

The 13 desserts One other Provençale custom is that of the 13 desserts, that are mentioned to symbolise Christ and the 12 apostles. An array of 13 choices – together with dried fruits, nuts, nougat, marzipan candies and an olive oil cake referred to as Pompe à l’huile – are specified by the week earlier than Christmas so that vacation guests can have one thing to nibble on. Custom holds that partaking of every of the 13 treats will deliver good luck within the coming yr.

Réveillon de Noël Christmas wouldn't be full and not using a luxurious feast, and in France that meal is called the Réveillon de Noël (from réveiller, to awaken or awaken) and infrequently takes place on December 24. The desk could also be embellished with an Creation wreath and candles, and a few advise knotting the ends of the tablecloth so the Satan cannot get beneath the desk.

Within the Center Ages, midnight Mass was preceded by a meagre meal; it was customary to eat solely just a little bread, fish or vegetable broth and drink a glass of water. Christmas dinner was the large conventional meal served to worshippers on December 25 after a protracted nighttime church service. Although fewer individuals lately attend midnight Mass, the custom of an enormous Christmas Eve or Christmas Day meal has survived.

Learn extra French Christmas traditions, from foie gras to oysters and the bûche de Noël

Foie gras All through December, grocery store cabinets are laden with cans and jars of foie gras, a French specialty of fattened duck or goose liver, typically served as a starter on heat toast with some jam, typically onion or fig.

Although many have stopped consuming foie gras due to the best way the birds’ livers are artificially fattened by gavage, or force-feeding, it stays one of the crucial fashionable meals objects for a French Christmas meal, and France in the present day stays its largest producer by far.

<img fetchpriority="low" src="https://s.france24.com/media/display/e8fb0b7e-e0a5-11f0-8bc1-005056a97e36/w:980/Foie-gras-IMGP2349.jpg" srcset="https://s.france24.com/media/display/e8fb0b7e-e0a5-11f0-8bc1-005056a97e36/w:246/Foie-gras-IMGP2349.jpg 246w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/e8fb0b7e-e0a5-11f0-8bc1-005056a97e36/w:388/Foie-gras-IMGP2349.jpg 388w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/e8fb0b7e-e0a5-11f0-8bc1-005056a97e36/w:720/Foie-gras-IMGP2349.jpg 720w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/e8fb0b7e-e0a5-11f0-8bc1-005056a97e36/w:980/Foie-gras-IMGP2349.jpg 980w" sizes="(max-width: 1023px) calc(100vw - 32px), (min-width: 1024px) 850px" alt="Slices of foie gras arranged on a plate with jam and herbs." style="max-height:511px" loading="lazy" class="a-img "/> Slices of foie gras organized on a plate with jam. © Nikodem Nijaki, Wikimedia Commons Actually translated as “fats liver”, foie gras originated in historic Egypt earlier than it unfold all through the Mediterranean and was adopted by the Greeks after which the Romans. Later, within the Center Ages, the custom of gavage was continued by the Jewish inhabitants, since goose meat was seen as an excellent supply of vitamin and its cooking fats conformed to Jewish dietary legal guidelines.

The recognition of foie gras grew through the Renaissance, when it grew to become related to the kings of France. The time period “foyes gras” was coined through the reign of Louis XIV and it was served at royal banquets beneath Louis XV, nevertheless it was Louis XVI who declared it the “dish of kings".

Foie gras can also be typically served pan-roasted, or sliced over a minimize of meat, or as a sauce. It's produced in winter, and its excessive value makes it an opulent vacation product that's good for year-end festivities.

For individuals who don't eat foie gras, different frequent starters at a French Christmas or New Yr’s dinner are smoked salmon, scallops (coquilles Saint-Jacques), shrimp or oysters.

Oysters The French are among the many largest customers of oysters on this planet, with greater than 85,000 tonnes of oysters served annually, a big portion of which is loved on the Christmas dinner desk.

Oysters are straightforward to search out in France, with its lengthy shoreline, and are comparatively wholesome for a vacation dish. They're most frequently served contemporary on shaved ice alongside a crimson wine and shallot French dressing (generally often known as a mignonette) or just a wedge of lemon.

It's customary to eat oysters solely throughout months which have an "r" of their names – September by April. This isn't solely as a result of they style greatest throughout this era however attributable to behavior – lengthy earlier than refrigerated transportation strategies have been invented, oysters may solely be shipped inland from the ocean through the chilly winter months in the event that they have been to remain contemporary and never spoil earlier than being served. Salmon, lobster, crayfish and different seafood are additionally historically eaten in winter for a similar cause.

<img fetchpriority="low" src="https://s.france24.com/media/display/5b6d86ec-e0a5-11f0-b8b7-005056bfb2b6/w:980/AP080903046144.jpg" srcset="https://s.france24.com/media/display/5b6d86ec-e0a5-11f0-b8b7-005056bfb2b6/w:246/AP080903046144.jpg 246w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/5b6d86ec-e0a5-11f0-b8b7-005056bfb2b6/w:388/AP080903046144.jpg 388w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/5b6d86ec-e0a5-11f0-b8b7-005056bfb2b6/w:720/AP080903046144.jpg 720w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/5b6d86ec-e0a5-11f0-b8b7-005056bfb2b6/w:980/AP080903046144.jpg 980w" sizes="(max-width: 1023px) calc(100vw - 32px), (min-width: 1024px) 850px" alt="A French Oyster-farmer shows an oyster in his oyster bed parc in Marennes-Oleron, western France." style="max-height:626px" loading="lazy" class="a-img "/> French oyster-farmer Philippe Labrousse reveals an oyster in his oyster mattress parc in Marennes-Oleron, western France. © Tobias Schmidt, AP Christmas turkey Very similar to in the USA or Nice Britain, a staple of French Christmas dinner is the stuffed turkey, or the dinde de Noël.

Earlier than the turkey arrived in Europe from the Americas within the seventeenth century, the French ate stuffed goose. However the turkey has principally changed the goose as the vacation hen of selection as a result of it's cheaper, but bigger and meatier than rooster and thus match for a feast.

A smaller, succulent fowl that may be very fashionable in France through the winter holidays is the capon (chapon), a cockerel that was neutered to render its meat fattier and often weighing 3-4 kilos, or the even smaller guinea fowl (pintade).

No matter hen is chosen, it's usually roasted and served with a particular Christmas stuffing that historically contains chestnuts and infrequently mushrooms.

Different vacation most important dishes in France embrace roasted meats resembling lamb or beef and likewise recreation, resembling wild boar, venison or pheasant, which aren't typically eaten year-round by French people who find themselves not hunters.

Bûche de Noël No Christmas in France is full and not using a bûche de Noël, in any other case often known as the Xmas log cake. The bûche is an elaborate creation product of a rolled sponge cake full of cream and frosted to seem like tree bark or a log.

It's a reminder of an earlier custom, relationship again to the Iron Age, when individuals in Europe would collect to welcome the winter solstice on December 21, the longest evening of the yr. Households would burn massive logs, often from fruit bushes, anointed with wine and salt and embellished with pine cones, holly or ivy. The log stored the home heat, and its ashes have been mentioned to have medicinal advantages and to protect in opposition to evil.

After a meal of stuffed goose, capon or different roasted meat – to not point out Champagne, good wine and all kinds of wealthy desserts and goodies – it’s not shocking that the French converse of a crise de foie (“liver disaster,” also referred to as indigestion) on the finish of the vacation season.

However just a little crise de foie is a small value to pay for a festive meal with household and pals to thrust back the winter chill.

Learn extra All you'll want to learn about bûche de Noël, the standard French Christmas dessert

<img fetchpriority="low" src="https://s.france24.com/media/display/31c977fc-e0ae-11f0-88b6-005056a90284/w:980/B%C3%BBche-de-No%C3%ABl-Pix.jpg" srcset="https://s.france24.com/media/display/31c977fc-e0ae-11f0-88b6-005056a90284/w:246/B%C3%BBche-de-No%C3%ABl-Pix.jpg 246w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/31c977fc-e0ae-11f0-88b6-005056a90284/w:388/B%C3%BBche-de-No%C3%ABl-Pix.jpg 388w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/31c977fc-e0ae-11f0-88b6-005056a90284/w:720/B%C3%BBche-de-No%C3%ABl-Pix.jpg 720w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/31c977fc-e0ae-11f0-88b6-005056a90284/w:980/B%C3%BBche-de-No%C3%ABl-Pix.jpg 980w" sizes="(max-width: 1023px) calc(100vw - 32px), (min-width: 1024px) 850px" alt="A traditional French bûche de Noël on display at a bakery." style="max-height:567px" loading="lazy" class="a-img "/> A standard French bûche de Noël on sale at a bakery. © Visitor7 by way of Wikimedia commons Les Étrennes Whereas the primary occasion could also be over because the yr attracts to a detailed, the festivities don't but cease in France, which carries the vacation season into February.

Les Étrennes is a New Yr’s Eve custom of gift-giving relationship again to Roman instances, when choices sometimes included honey, dates or cash in addition to laurel leaves or branches. Right now in France the day is marked by providing an envelope of cash and generally a card to those that do be just right for you all yr spherical, notably rubbish collectors, firefighters, mailmen and your constructing's concierge or gardien(ne).

Epiphany and the galettes des rois A lot of France marks Épiphanie on January 6 with a galette des rois (king cake) – a flaky, puffed cake layered with frangipane, a candy almond paste. The cake has a ceramic bauble (the fève, or bean) baked inside. Whoever receives the slice with the fève turns into king or queen for the day and is given a gold paper crown, bought with the cake.

When the cake is served, the youngest particular person current historically crawls beneath the desk to blindly choose who will obtain the following slice.

Christian legend holds that Epiphany, or Three Kings' Day, is when the three clever males arrived in Bethlehem. However the custom of the fève dates from Roman celebrations of Saturnalia in late December and early January, when slaves would dine with the remainder of the family. If a slave obtained the fève they may have something they needed for the day.

Learn extra Galette des rois: France begins the brand new yr with a cake for kings

<img fetchpriority="low" src="https://s.france24.com/media/display/9aedbff0-e0b2-11f0-96f4-005056a90284/w:980/Galettes-des-rois.jfif" srcset="https://s.france24.com/media/display/9aedbff0-e0b2-11f0-96f4-005056a90284/w:246/Galettes-des-rois.jfif 246w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/9aedbff0-e0b2-11f0-96f4-005056a90284/w:388/Galettes-des-rois.jfif 388w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/9aedbff0-e0b2-11f0-96f4-005056a90284/w:720/Galettes-des-rois.jfif 720w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/9aedbff0-e0b2-11f0-96f4-005056a90284/w:980/Galettes-des-rois.jfif 980w" sizes="(max-width: 1023px) calc(100vw - 32px), (min-width: 1024px) 850px" alt="Galettes des rois desserts and paper crowns on display on a bakery shelf." style="max-height:638px" loading="lazy" class="a-img "/> Galettes des rois desserts and paper crowns on show in a bakery. © Ptitpainsuedois by way of Wikimedia Commons The Chandeleur The Chandeleur is widely known on February 2 to mark 40 days after Christmas. Identified by the Christians as Candlemas, it's one other custom that may be traced again to Celtic and Roman pagans, who celebrated that the times have been getting longer round this time.

Right now in France it's when Christmas nativity scenes are sometimes taken down and a day for consuming crêpes which might be spherical and golden just like the solar, to herald the return to longer days. Holding a coin in your left hand whereas efficiently flipping a crêpe together with your proper is assumed to deliver prosperity.